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Despite its relative youth, the United States is home to some of the most famous and recognizable monuments in the world. America’s more than 100 national monuments are in large part administered by the National Park Service and are a testament to the country’s natural beauty, history and resilience.

Statue of Liberty, New York Harbor

A symbol of America recognized all over the world, Lady Liberty has held her lantern aloft at the entrance to New York Harbor since 1886. Tour the grounds at Liberty Island, tour inside the statue's pedestal and Ellis Island Immigration Museum or combine both experiences with a climb inside the statue's giant crown, tickets for which frequently sell out months in advance.

The Lincoln Memorial, Washington, D.C.

The Lincoln Memorial is the nation's most visited monument, attracting over six million visitors annually. An impressive 19-foot-high statue of the nation's 16th president is posed under a classic Parthenon-inspired structure. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., delivered his "I Have a Dream" speech here in 1963. The free monument is open 24 hours a day.

Washington Monument, The National Mall

A 555-foot obelisk built to commemorate the first president of the United States stands in the capital city named for him. On the grassy National Mall in the heart of Washington, D.C., the structure rose in the 1880s. Following earthquake repairs and an elevator upgrade, the interior of the Washington Monument is open from spring 2019.

Muir Woods National Monument, Mount Tamalpais

It's astounding that a forest of coastal Northern California redwoods is only 11 miles beyond San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge. Hike through sun-dappled lush growth beneath 300-foot-tall living monuments. Or stick to the boardwalk on a guided tour. Visitors need a parking and shuttle bus reservation for Muir Woods, which is open 365 days a year.

Fort Sumter, Charleston Harbor

Charleston, South Carolina is one of America's most beloved urban tourism destinations. Look beyond the city's church steeples and well preserved homes to the island fortification where the first shot of the Civil War rang out in 1861. American history is brought to life by a park ranger on a regularly scheduled cruise to Fort Sumter.

World War II Valor in the Pacific, Pearl Harbor

Near Honolulu, the USS Arizona Monument is Hawaii's top attraction, honoring the 2,390 souls who died here on December 7, 1941. This architecturally striking monument is a national military cemetery. Visitors can reach the site by boat with a free walk-in ticket distributed daily from 7 a.m. Alternatively, book online up to two months ahead.

National September 11 Memorial & Museum, New York City

In Lower Manhattan on a sunny Tuesday morning in late summer 2001, the modern world changed. Two deep pools surrounded by a parapet are a tribute to the nearly 3,000 victims of the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center. Within the footprint of the former Twin Towers site, visitors come to reflect. An adjacent museum presents exhibits and an interactive timeline of that day's events.

The Alamo, San Antonio

"A story bigger than Texas," the Alamo traces 300 years of the mission, the fort and the battle where the state finally won independence from Mexico in 1836. Visited by 2.5 million people per year, the Alamo is the top tourist attraction in the Lone Star State. Owned by the people of Texas, the monument is open every day except Christmas and admission is free.

Mount Rushmore, South Dakota

Carved into the Black Hills of South Dakota and visited by 2.5 million people a year, the likenesses of four American presidents loom much larger than life. Did you know George Washington's nose is 21 feet tall? He's joined by Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and Teddy Roosevelt. See the monument when it is illuminated for a few hours every evening after sunset.

Independence National Historical Park, Philadelphia

Cracked, yet perfect in the eyes of its admirers, the Liberty Bell is the centerpiece of the national historic park in downtown Philadelphia. Nearby, visit Independence Hall where the Founding Fathers debated and drafted the U.S. Constitution and the Declaration of Independence. Download the free mobile app for a self-guided tour.

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About the Author

Based in San Francisco, Laurie Jo Miller Farr is career-long destination and hotel marketing specialist. She contributes to CBS Travel, Where, Frommers, Foodie Travel USA and We Blog the World. She is editor of The Travel Vertical, a weekly newsletter for digital travel marketers. A former tourism director for NYC, Laurie Jo is a dual UK/US citizen who covered the 2012 London Olympics for "Best of Britain" and received the 2013 Yahoo Contributor of the Year Award.

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